From the President

COVID-19, Red Tape and Tax

DAVID BASHEER – AHA|SA PRESIDENT

WATCH VIDEO - ISSUES LIST FOR NEW GOVT: https://youtu.be/nxSHURLvSic

WATCH VIDEO - STAFFING CRISIS: https://youtu.be/bLONTDFF_ts

NEW GOVERNMENT

The AHA|SA congratulates Peter Malinauskas and his team on securing a majority victory at the recent State election.

The AHA|SA enjoys excellent relationships with the new Premier, along with key Ministers and advisors and we have already been requested to present a detailed policy agenda to the new Cabinet.

Last year, and certainly during the election campaign, we strongly lobbied both sides of politics around restrictions, close contact rules and the mechanism used to make decisions. It was comforting to hear that the announcements made by the new Premier in his first week in office very much reflected those discussions.

It Is appropriate to thank and acknowledge the efforts of the outgoing Liberal Government, and particularly Premier Steven Marshall. Whilst their period In office will be characterised largely for Issues surrounding COVID-19, it should not be forgotten our industry won important concessions working with the then government around new gaming technologies, liquor Iicensing and tourism opportunities.

The AHA|SA will always be a bipartisan industry organisation. The make-up of the Upper House demands we continue to work collaboratively with the Government, Opposition and key crossbenchers to protect the investments of our members whilst aspiring to future growth.

STRANGLED BY RED TAPE

Every incoming government, State and Federal, proclaims one of their key goals is to reduce red tape for small business.

Every incoming government, State and Federal, then proceed to increase red tape for small business.

The fundamental issue is government expects small and family businesses, with limited resources, to behave like big multinationals and in too many cases, become unpaid public servants.

Endless forms to fill out - and you don’t want to be late when your work pressures and deadlines don’t match theirs.

The recent visits many of our members enjoyed from the National Measurement Institute (yes, there is such a thing) during their week- long blitz of licensed premises was a case in point.

Forget about the small fact we are taking the first tentative steps of finding our feet after two years of COVID-19 disruptions. Forget about the fact with close contact and isolation rules, that every pub in this State has endured extreme labour shortages. A failure to comply can lead to prosecution, with potential fines of more than $222,000 for each offence. That seems a fair and proportionate response as we grapple our daily work pressures…

We are not saying we should be exempt from such inspection blitzes but surely there should be a mechanism in place that recognises that such non-urgent audits should be performed when industry is less under siege and our resources are stretched to the limit.

Out of proportion processes abound at CBS. Whilst a Bean Bar can entertain tradies with $5 stubbies free of many of our obligations, a CBD hotel manager this month alerted me to the predicament of seeking to change gaming trading hours by one hour for two days of the week. No change in licensing hours, just opening gaming one hour later and closing one hour later- in the heart of the CBD and its supposed 24-hour economy. That hotel had to advertise their changes, and wait six weeks for a hearing date to allow for community consultation before they could make such a minor change. So much for a nimble outlook to help business in their COVID-19 recovery phase.

We have a new Minister for Small and Family Business and Consumer and Business Services, Andrea Michaels, and we will be raising such issues with her.

FEDERAL BUDGET

The AHA was bitterly disappointed its submissions for a reduction in beer excise and changes to the Fringe Benefits Tax were ignored.

We made detailed and professional submissions on both counts and were given encouraging feedback from key decision makers along the way.

The failure of the Federal Government to realise that onpremise hospitality has been damaged more than most sectors by COVID-19 is a slap in the face to our 560 members in South Australia and our nearly 6,000 members Australia- wide.

With cost of living pressures central to budget discussions, some relief to the everyday punter from this hidden beer tax would have been welcome.

As we were able to directly communicate to key Coalition members on budget night, we are not going away. The AHA will continue to fiercely lobby to reduce the burden of this unfair, twice annual impost.

VALE MARIE ROGERS

The Rogers name is iconic in the South Australian hotel industry and I was saddened to learn of the passing of Marie, wife of the late Major Rogers.

On behalf of members, I would like to extend my condolences to Executive Council member Matt Rogers and his family, and publicly acknowledge them for their contribution to the industry and the AHA|SA.